Ministry of Unification Holds a Joint Seminar with the Korean Political Science Association

Seeking Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula Beyond North Korea's Hostile "Two-State" Relationship

Ministry of Unification Holds a Joint Seminar with the Korean Political Science Association (December 8)

On December 8, the Ministry of Unification held a joint seminar with the Korean Political Science Association under the theme, "Seeking Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula Beyond North Korea's Hostile 'Two-State' Relationship."

In the first session, participants presented and discussed "changes in South Korean public opinion on unification and measures to institutionalize peaceful coexistence." In the second session, they presented and discussed "exploring political solutions for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula."

In welcoming remarks delivered on his behalf by Vice Minister Kim Nam Jung, Minister of Unification Chung Dong Young stated that "peace on the Korean Peninsula is a fundamental prerequisite for the safety and happiness of the people, and the most certain way to convert the 'Korea Risk' that future generations will shoulder into a 'Korea Premium.'" He added that "the Lee Jae Myung administration will move beyond confrontation and hostility and advance toward a future in which the South and the North peacefully coexist and achieve shared growth."

He further emphasized that establishing a relationship between the South and the North as "two peaceful states oriented toward unification," and institutionalizing peaceful coexistence on that basis, is a priority and an important task. He also stated that, "while respecting past inter-Korean agreements, it is necessary to lay a normative foundation so that inter-Korean relations can consistently move toward reconciliation and cooperation, and to establish a legal basis for pursuing a sustainable North Korea policy."

He concluded by saying that he "hopes today's seminar will further invigorate academic discussion and debate on measures for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula," adding that "the government will listen closely to the views raised and reflect them in policy, making every effort to build a Korean Peninsula of peaceful coexistence."